Apparatus for burnishing the end of a tube or the like



Sept. 2, 1969 J. T. YOVANOVICH 3,464,327

APPARATUS FOR BURNISHING THE END OF A TUBE OR THE LIKE Filed May 15, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR, Jade i7. Yul 4:22am;

ATTORNEY p 2, 1969 J. T. YOVANOVICH 3,464,327

APPARATUS FOR BURNISHING THE END OF A TUBE OR THE LIKE Filed May 15, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR: Jade 7T Vamzwrza ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,464,327 APPARATUS FOR BURNISI-IING THE END OF A TUBE OR THE LIKE Joseph T. Yovanovich, Rosemont, Pa., assignor of fifty percent to Milton Berger, Philadelphia, Pa. Filed May 15, 1967, Ser. No. 638,499 Int. Cl. B31c 11/00; B31f 7/00 US. Cl. 93-83 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The instant invention is essentially concerned with apparatus for burnishing the end of a tube including a rotary head having jaws engageable with a tube end, wherein the frictional resistance imparted by the tube end to the jaws tends to close the latter for effective burnishing action.

Background of the invention In the use of tubes for carrying yarn, it is highly advantageous that such tubes be covered with a thin parchment to protect the yarn from contamination, etc., resulting from materials of the tube proper. The conventional use of a rigid burnishing cup to achieve the essential rounded end on parchment-covered tubes has not been found satisfactory, as tending to foreshorten the parchment covering.

Summary It is an important object of the present invention to provide a unique and highly improved apparatus which more quickly, easily, accurately, and reliably effects burnishing of the ends of tubes, such as parchmentcovered paperboard tubes or the like, to insure smooth tube ends, without impairing the tube strength, concentricity, or other essential characteristics.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tube-end burnishing apparatus having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which is extremely simple in construction, durable and reliable throughout a long useful life, and which can be economically manufactured, operated and maintained.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawing FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view showing tubeburnishing apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIGURE '2.

FIGURE 4 is a partial elevational view, similar to FIGURE 1, but broken away to illustrate interior head construction.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURE 1 thereof, tube-burnishing apparatus of the present invention is there generally designated 10, and includes a pair of rotary heads 11 arranged in end-to-end facing, spaced relation, each being ice carried at its outer or distal end by support means 12, which are in turn mounted on a base 13. The base 13 is provided with a pair of longitudinally aligned guides or ways 14 carrying respective support means 12 for sliding movement toward and away from each other. The sliding movement of support means 12 may be effected in any suitable manner, a double-ended crank being shown at 15 carried by a rotary shaft 16, the crank being connected at its opposite ends by a pair of rods or links 17 to respective support means 12, whereby rotary oscillation of the shaft 16 through an arc of about degrees effects reciprocation of the support means 12 toward and away from each other. In the illustrated condition of FIGURE 1, the support means 12, and their respective heads 11 have been moved toward each other.

A tube is generally desginated 20, and may be a conventional fiber or paperboard tube, as employed to carry yarn or the like. The tube 20 is shown in position between the rotary heads 11, having its opposite ends burnished by respective heads. Any suitable tube-feed means may be employed to place the tube 20 in the illustrated position between heads 11, prior to burnishing, and remove the tube subsequent to burnishing. For example, a rotary turret or spider 21 may include a plurality of radial arms 22, each having a receiver 23 movable through the illustrated position in alignment with and between the heads 11. As will appear hereinafter in greater detail, the heads 11 are retracted or shifted away from each other, as by a quarter turn of shaft 16 shifting the support means 12 apart. In synchronism therewith, the turret or spider 21 may rotate to move the tube 20 out of its illustrated position between heads 11, and simultaneously move another tube into position between and in end-to-end alignment with the heads. The heads are then caused to return or move inward toward each other, as by rotation of shaft 16, and the heads 11 rotated to effect the burnishing action, whereupon the above-described cycle is repeated.

Any suitable operating mechanisms may be employed for synchronously effecting the above-described axial shifting of supports 12 and indexing of turret 21.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 3, a head 11 and head support 12 are there shown in greater detail. The head support 12 includes a hollow body or slide 25 mounted in the guideway 14 for sliding movement therein. Fixed interiorly of the body 25 is a generally cylin* drical casing 26 having one end closed, as at 27 toward the adjacent head 11. The other end of the cylindrical casing, remote from the had 11 may be closed by a hatshaped end piece 28. Extending centrally from the closed casing end 27, substantially axially thereof, is a hollow extension 29 having an axial thru bore 30. That is, the extension 29 has its thru bore 30 opening through the extending end of the extension, and also through the casing wall 27 into the interior of the casing.

An annular hub 31 is circumposed about the extension 39, spaced from the casing wall 27, and maintained in nonrotatable relation about the extension, as by suitable spline means, or a key 32. The spline means 32 retains the hub 31 nonrotatably on the extension 29, while permitting limited axial shifting of the hub on the extension. Axial shifting of the hub is limited in one direction by an annular retainer 33 on the extension 29, adjacent to the distal end thereof, which retainer also serves to retain the hub on the extension.

The head 11 includes an outer sleeve 35 spacedly circumposed about the hub 31 and axially rotatable thereabout by suitable bearings 36 and 37 interposed bet-ween the hub and sleeve. The inner end of the sleeve 35, re mote from the support means '12, is effectively closed by a ring 38, while a rotary seal 39 is interposed between the annulus 38 and hub 31 to seal the space therebetween at the inner ends thereof. A similar seal 40 may be interposed between the sleeve 35 and hub 31 at the outer ends thereof.

An annular clamping ring 42 is engaged over the front or inner face of the ring 38, and a plurality of securement members or tie-bolts 43 are arranged at circumferentially spaced locations about the clamping ring, each bolt extending through the clamping ring, end ring 38, and into the inner end of sleeve 35, to fixedly secure together these components. The clamping ring 42 is internally annularly cut away, as at 44, and thereby combines with the closure ring 38 to define an internal annular groove or space, for a purpose appearing presently.

The outer periphery of the clamping ring 42, adjacent to the sleeve 35, is provided with a circumferential rib or shoulder 45; and, a similar, external circumferential rib or shoulder 46 is provided on the sleeve 35, spaced from the shoulder 45. The shoulders 45 and 46 serve to secure therebetween an annular drive element or pulley 47, say a toothed pulley for cooperation with a toothed drive belt 48.

At a plurality of circumferentially spaced locations, the clamping ring 42 is provided with radially extending slots 50. That is, the slots 50 open radially inwardly and outwardly through the clamping ring 42, in a plane spaced longitudinally inward from the annular cutout 44. Within the annular cutout 44 is mounted an annulus or rotatable ring 51, being supported therein by suitable bearing means, such as roller or needle bearings 52 between the outer surface of the rotatable ring 51 and the adjacent internal cylindrical surface of the clamping ring 42. In addition, suitable bearings, such as rotatable balls 53 may be interposed between the adjacent faces of rotatable ring 51 and closure ring 38. Thus, the rotatable ring 51 is mounted for free rotation relative to the remainder of the head 11, coaxially therewith.

Arranged on the front or inner face of the rotatable ring 51 is an annular array of burnishing jaws 55. The jaws 55 may each be of arcuate configuration, arranged in end-to-end relationship, and, in their illustrated closed condition, defining substantially a circular configuration, see FIGURE 3. In cross section, as seen in FIGURE 2, the inner or burnishing face 56 of each jaw 55 is beveled to taper inwardly, the beveled surface 56 curving smoothly at 57 to merge with a generally radial surface 58. Thus, each jaw 55 is somewhat L-shaped in cross section, and the several jaws combine to define a centrally open, cup-shaped configuration for receiving an end of the tube 20, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

In addition, the jaws 55 may each be provided on their surface adjacent to the rotatable ring 51 with recesses rotatably receiving rollable bearings or. balls 59, to minimize friction upon relative movement of the jaws and rotatable ring.

At one end of each arcuate jaw 55, there extends a radially outstanding arm or offsetting portion 60. From the radially outer end of each oifsetting portion 60 extends an arcuate arm 61, generally concentric with the head axis and spaced radially outward from its connected jaw, being located directly radially outward from a jaw 55 adjacent to its connected jaw. The distal end of each arm or extension 61 is pivoted to the rotatable ring 51, as by a pivot pin 62. Also extending from the outer end of each offsetting portion 60, and pivotally connected thereto, is a link 63, which has its outer end entering an adjacent slot 50 of the clamping ring 42 and pivotally mounted therein, as by a pivot pin 64. It will be observed that each link 63 extends radially outwardly and obliquely away from its connected arm or extension 61, in the circumferential direction opposite to that of head rotation, as indicated by arrows 65.

As is apparent from FIGURE 3, the several links 63 each have their radially outer end pivotally connected in an alternate slot 50. Pivotally connected in each of the remaining, intermediate slots 50, is one end of an extension spring 66, as by a pivot pin 67. The extension springs 66 each extend obliquely radially inwardly from the respective slot 50 generally opposite to the direction of head rotation, and has its radially inner end pivoted, as by a pin 68 to the adjacent arm 61, proximate to olfsetting arm 60. Thus, it will be apparent that the springs 66 each tend to withdraw its associated jaw 55 radially outward, as by swinging the associated link 63 radially outward about its outer pivot 64, and simultaneously rotating ring 51 and swinging arm 61 radially outward about its pivot 62. During rotation of the head 11 in the direction of arrow 65, engagement with the jaws 55 by an end of tube 20 applies a frictional force to the jaws resisting rotation with the head. Against the force of springs 66, the jaws are moved radially inwardly by rotation of link 63 to swing its radially inner end inward, and retarded rotation of ring 51 together with radially inward swinging of arm 61 about its pivot 62. It will now therefore be understood that the hereinbefore described burnishing-head structure is self-actuating in operation.

Extending axially through the casing 26 and extension 29 is a plug shaft 70. The outer end of the plug shaft 70 is reduced, as at 71, defining an outwardly facing shoulder 72, and extends slidably through and beyond the outer end closure 28, as at 73, there being provided with stop nuts 74. The plug shaft 70 is nonrotatably keyed to the extension 29, as by a spline or key 75, which permits of relative axial shifting movement between the shaft 70 and extension 29. On the inner end of the plug shaft 70, spaced avithin the jaws 55, is an enlarged head or plug 76, being formed circumferentially with an external, inwardly facing shoulder 77.

A spring retainer 78 is circumposed about the reduced shaft portion 21, and a coil compression spring 79 is interposed between the retainer 78 and outer end wall of closure 28, to urge the plug shaft 70 toward a limiting longitudinally inwardly shifted position, as shown in FIG- URE 2. That is, the inward shifting position of the plug shaft 70 is limited by engagement of the spring retainer 78 with shoulder 72, and engagement of limit nuts 74 with the closure 28.

A spring retainer 80 is circumposed about the plug shaft 70 interiorly of the casing 26, in abutting engagement with the casing end wall 28. An additional spring retainer 81 is circumposed about the plug shaft 70 interiorly of the casing 26, proximate to the casing closure 27, and a coil compression spring 82 is interposed between the spring retainers 80 and 81 to urge the latter apart. A plurality of pins 83 extend freely slidably through the casing wall 27, having their outer ends interiorly of the casing 26, and their inner ends abutting against the outer end of hub 31. Thus, the force of coil spring 82 is transmitted through spring retainer 81 and pins 83 to hub 31, urging the latter toward its forward or innermost position against stop 32.

The operation, briefly described hereinbefore, will now be more fully appreciated. Assuming the tube 20 in FIG- URE 2 has its end fully burnished, outward movement of slide body 25 in guideway 14 effects outward movement of mounting support 12, together with outward movement of head 11, as the hub 31 is against its limit or stop 32, and the jaws 55 are fully closed. However, the plug shaft 70 and plug 76 remain in position to hold the tube, until the support body 25 is moved sufficiently to engage the closure cap 28 with the nuts 74. This etfects withdrawal of the plug 76, simultaneously with withdrawal of the corresponding plug in the other end of tube 20, and in synchronism with movement of turret 21 to replace tubes. With an unburnished tube 20 in position between the heads 11, the body 25 is shifted inward, with the plugs 76 extending inward beyond the associated heads 11 to firmly engage in respective ends of the unburnished tube, with the tube ends seating in plug shoulders 77 to firmly hold the tube in position. It is understood that the jaws 55 are resiliently held radially outward in the absence of engagement with a tube, and that the heads 11 may be continuously rotating throughout the operation.

Inward movement of the support means 12 may continue until opposite ends of the unburnished tube are engaged by the radially outwardly displaced jaws 55. As described hereinbefore, it is this frictional engagement with the jaws that causes inward jaw movement and selfactuated burnishing. Further, undue force is not applied to the tube ends, as the heads 11 may retract automatically against the resiliently biased pins 27. Further, in addition to the holding action of the turret 21 with each tube 20, and the holding action of the plug 76 with a tube being burnished, the aligned heads 11 are caused to rotate in opposite directions to effectively counterbalance any rotative force applied to the tube.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides an apparatus for burnishing the ends of tubes, and the like, which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture, installation, maintenance and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for burnishing the end of a tube or the like comprising a rotary head for location in end-to-end facing relation with a tube to be burnished, an annular array of burnishing jaws at the facing end of said head said jaws each being provided with a recess opening radially inwardly of jaw rotation and longitudinally outwardly toward a tube end to be burnished to provide radially inwardly and longitudinally outwardly facing surface areas, and mounting means mounting each of said jaws for rotation with said head and radial inward movement upon endwise engagement of a tube in said recesses in frictional retarding co-action with the longitudinally outwardly facing surface areas of said jaws, and means for etfecting relative movement between the head and the tube to cause said endwise engagement whereby said jaws effect radial contraction and burnishing engagement of the tube end portion with the internal conformation of said recesses.

2. Apparatus for burnishing the end of a tube or the like according to claim 1, said mounting means each comprising a linkage pivotally connected between said head and a respective jaw for radially inward and outward movement of the latter, and resilient means urging said jaws radially outward, said linkages each being arranged to move said jaws radially inwardly upon resistance imparted to said jaws against jaw rotation with said head, whereby said jaws effect burnishing action upon a tube in frictional engagement with said jaws upon jaw rotation with said head.

3. Apparatus for burnishing the end of a tube according to claim 2, each of said linkages comprising a link having one end pivotally connected to a radially outer region of the respective jaw and extending radially outward therefrom and obliquely opposite to the direction of head rotation having its other end pivotally connected to said head, whereby frictional engagement of said jaw by a tube tends to resist head rotation effecting radially inward jaw movement for burnishing action.

4. Apparatus for burnishing the end of a tube according to claim 1, in combination with a relatively nonrotatable plug extending axially within said head and longitudinally shiftable relative to said head for firm supporting insertion into a tube end to be burnished.

5. Apparatus for burnishing the end of a tube or the like comprising a rotary head for location in end-to-end facing relation with a tube to be burnished, an annular array of burnishing jaws at the facing end of said head having their inner faces configured for burnishing engagement with a tube end, mounting means mounting each of said jaws for rotation with said head and radial inward movement upon burnishing engagement with a tube, a second rotary head for location in end-to-end facing relation with the other end of the tube to be burnished, a second annular array of burnishing jaws at the facing end of said second head having their inner faces configured for burnishing engagement with said other tube end, second mounting means mounting each of said jaws for rotation with said head and radial inward movement upon burnishing engagement with a tube, means for moving said heads toward each other, and rotary drive means rotating said first and second heads in opposite directions, for burnishing engagement of said arrays of jaws with opposite ends of a tube to counteract the rotational forces of each other applied to said tube.

6. Apparatus for burnishing the end of a tube according to claim 5, in combination with a relatively nonrotatable plug extending axially within each head and longitudinally shiftable relative to the respective head for firm supporting insertion into and withdrawal from the adjacent end of a tube to be burnished.

7. Apparatus for burnishing the end of a tube according to claim 1, in combination with support means supporting said head for rotation and limited axial shifting toward and awayfrom a tube to be burnished, resilient means operatively connected between said support means and head to urge the latter toward a tube to be burnished, and way means mounting said support for longitudinal movement toward and away from a tube to be burnished beyond the limits of said axial shifting.

8. Apparatus for burnishinglhe end of a tube according to claim 7, in combination with a plug mounted centrally in said head for longitudinal shifting with said head and relative thereto for firm supporting insertion into and withdrawal from a tube end to be burnished.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 23,520 4/1859 White 2990 619,987 2/1899 OKeefe 29-90 751,506 2/ 1904 Hatfield 29-90 1,090,394 3/1914 Haefely 29--90 1,849,111 3/1932 Parker 93--83 2,266,420 12/1941 Gardner 9383 2,473,383 6/1949 Messinger 9383 3,212,166 10/ 1965 Wolff 2990 1,168,462 1/1916 Batdorf 9336.5 X 2,882,553 4/1959 Cahill 9336.5 X 3,318,203 5/1967 Durat 9336.5

WAYNE A. MOORE, JR., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

